Category: Sports

In early September, Panini America will reintroduce an old friend to football collectors with the release of 2015 Donruss Football. The first standalone Donruss-branded NFL product since 2002 will deliver both hobby and retail versions steeped in long-adored brand staples such as Rated Rookies, Classics, Dominators, Gridiron Kings, Passing the Torch Autographs and more.

Set to release on September 2, each hobby box of 2015 Donruss Football (eight cards per pack, 24 packs per box) will deliver three autograph or memorabilia cards, four parallels, four Rated Rookies, one Classics, two Gridiron Kings, nine Elite inserts, nine Elite Rookies, two Passing the Torch inserts, two Elite Series and one Dominator.

In continuation of FIFA’s unprecedented skid, on Wednesday, Interpol added six men with ties to FIFA to its most wanted list, issuing an international alert for two former officials and four executives with charges of racketeering and corruption.

“NBC Sports Championship Season” coverage takes center stage this weekend with numerous high-profile events including the 147th Belmont Stakes featuring Triple Crown contender American Pharoah, Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning, the Women’s and Men’s Finals in the 2015 French Open, Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC, the IndyCar Firestone 600, the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, and Lucas Oil Motocross.

In addition to this weekend’s events, “NBC Sports Championship Season” featured the first two legs of the Triple Crown, The Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, and The Players Championship, which took place last month. “Championship Season” continues through July with the remainder of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final between the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning, and the 2015 Tour de France.

Each 12-pack hobby box will deliver at least two autographs (although some boxes have three autographs), 24 Draft Picks, six Prizms, one Stained Glass and three additional inserts. We’ll have much more on 2015 Prizm Collegiate Draft Picks Football in the coming days leading up to next Wednesday’s official release.

Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner American Pharoah runs for history, aiming to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, as NBC Sports Group presents the 147th Belmont Stakes this Saturday, June 6, at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Coverage from Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., begins Friday, June 5, at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Highlights of NBC Sports Group’s Belmont coverage include:

Bob Costas’ essay on the elusive Triple Crown, discussing past winners and what makes this achievement unique, and difficult.

Josh Elliott hosts a feature on American Pharoah’s road to the Triple Crown, takes a look at his challengers, and visits with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who is making his fourth attempt at the Triple Crown with American Pharoah.

A feature on “Drought Busters” – professional athletes who have helped break major slumps in their respective sports.

A look at Victor Espinoza’s 2014 Triple Crown attempt at Belmont aboard California Chrome. Espinoza, once a bus driver in Mexico, is now the first jockey in history to have three chances at the Triple Crown. In addition, Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss continue their debate on the reasons California Chrome finished fourth in last year’s Belmont and failed to win the Triple Crown.

For the first time at the Belmont Stakes, NBC Sports will utilize a 4K super-slow-motion, reverse finish-line camera.

The coordinating producer of NBC’s horse racing coverage is Rob Hyland, who has been a part of the network’s horse racing coverage since 2001. The Belmont Stakes is directed by Sunday Night Football and NBC Sports’ horse racing director, Drew Esocoff. The coverage on NBCSN is produced by Billy Matthews and directed by Doug Grabert. The executive producer of NBC Sports and NBCSN is Sam Flood, who has produced 12 Triple Crown races for the network.

NBC Sports’ Championship Season coverage takes center stage this Sunday with numerous high-profile events airing on NBC and NBCSN, including Game 5 of the NHL Eastern Conference Final between Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Rangers; the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix; Premier League’s “Championship Sunday;” the first round of the 2015 French Open; and the Senior PGA Championship.

“Championship Season” consists of high-profile events from May through July, and continues with the 2015 Stanley Cup Final, the 147th Belmont Stakes featuring Triple Crown contender American Pharoah, The Men’s and Women’s French Open Finals, and the 2015 Tour de France.

Panini America’s colorful, Prizm-infused Spectra brand has wasted precious little time in etching out a loyal following among hardhcore hoops collectors. In fact, with just one inaugural release last season, Spectra Basketball became a bona fide favorite — as much for its perfect-for-Prizm designs as for its rich autograph and memorabilia content. When the second installment arrives next week, collectors will revel in the fact that the brand has only improved with age.

2014-15 Spectra Basketball releases one week from today and will deliver seven autograph or memorabilia cards in every box. The product this year also has been bolstered by the addition of Global Icons, a one-per-case chase insert that showcases some of the game’s greatest international players. After the jump, you can discover a little bit of everything else the product has to offer.

NBCUniversal presents a blockbuster “Championship Sunday,” with all 10 matches presented live simultaneously on 10 different NBCUniversal television networks this Sunday, May 24 at 10 a.m. ET. In addition, Telemundo and NBC UNIVERSO will each televise one match in Spanish, and all 10 matches will be streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra, NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices and tablets.

Chelsea, this season’s Premier League champions, will be presented with the trophy this Sunday, while Newcastle and Hull City aim to avoid the final relegation position. Depending on the result of their match against Arsenal on Wednesday, 16th-place Sunderland could join Newcastle and Hull City in Sunday’s fight to avoid relegation.